thompson



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. M. THOMPSON. PACKING MACHINE. No. 487,355.

Patented Dec. .6, 1892.

IMT.

Muro-Limo. wAswNm'cN. n r:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. Ma THOMPSON. PACKING MACHINE Patented Deer. 6, 1892.`

manu

nnunu-plummf 11ml W/ TNESSES UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERT M. THOMPSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO NORDYKE &MARMON COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PACKING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,355, dated December6, 1892.

Application filed February 27, 1892. Serial No. 423,055. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERT M. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention consists in certain improvements upon that forwhich Letters Patent of the United States N o. 435,467 were granted me,dated September 2, 1890, as will be hereinafter more particularlydescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figurel is a front elevation of a branpacker embodying my said invention; Fig.2, a central vertical sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, adetailperspective view of the coupling, which is one feature of my presentinvention, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4, a top or plan view, on anenlarged scale, of said coupling; Fig. 5,a side elevation of the samewhen in its lowest position; Fig. 6, a front elevation when in the sameposition, and Fig. 7 a front elevation when in its highest position.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the framework of mymachine; B, the auger-shaft; C, the driving-shaft; D, the hopper; E, avalve in said hopper, and F a platform on which the sacks to be filledrest.

As above indicated, this invention consists in improvements upon thatshown in my patent referred to, and there are some features of themachine (not specifically referred to herein) which embody certaindifferences of construction from that of the corresponding devices shownin the drawings of said patent. Such differences, however, are regardedby me as mechanical only, and will not, therefore, be further describedherein, except incidentally in describing the features of the presentinvention.

The frame A supports the mechanism of my machine, including bearings forthe auger-shaft B, supports for the hopper, Ways for the platform,(which has a limited movement similar to that of an elevator,) and otherbearings and attachments which the nature of the invention and its workrequire.

The auger-shaft B is arranged in vertical position, and in operation isgiven both a rotary and reciprocating motion, as in the case of myformer invention and as will be hereinafter more particularly explained.Its lower end terminates in a taper-pointed auger or screw, by which thepacking is effected. This screw differs from that shown in my previouspatent and in other packing-machines in the matter of its shape. It isnecessary in packing bran that there shall be both a lateral andvertical displacement of the material by the packing device to securethe best results, and I have ascertained by experiment and actual testthat the taper-pointed form accomplishes this much more completelyr thananyother. Being pointed it will enter the mass and in revolving force itsidewise, while at the same time its screw shape will force it down. Itspointed shape also, as the auger descends in its reciprocal movement,permits it to enter the mass of bran more easily and with less shockthan the ordinary squareended form. The pointed form, therefore, is ofgreat value in a machine having my peculiar operation.

The driving-shaft C is arranged at right angles with the auger-shaft Band is connected, as will now be explained, to give said auger-shaftboth a revolving and a reciprocating movement. A cross-head C is mountedon ways in the frame A and is connected by a pitman C2 to the face of acombined crank and bevel gear-wheel O3, secured to the inner end of saidshaft O. The center of the crosshead is made in the form of asleeve andsurrounds the auger-shaft B and is so connected thereto as to cause itto move reciprocally therewith, but not to prevent said auger-shaft fromrevolving. A second bevel gear-wheel C4 is mounted in a long verticalbearing a in the upper portion of the frame by means of a sleeve-likehub c4, which extends through said bearing a to above it, whichsleeve-like hub also surrounds the auger-shaft B, whilev the bevelgear-wheel C4 engages with and is driven by the gear-wheel C3. end ofthe sleeve-like hub is a yoke C5, rigidly secured thereto, and upon theupper end of the auger-shaft B is a corresponding yoke B5. These twoyokes are connected by links.` Z, and

Upon the 'upper IOO there is preferably a slight looseness in the jointsby which said links and yokes are connected, so that there shall be nobinding or stiffness in their movements. As shown, especially bycomparison of Figs. 6 and 7, this arrangement permits a verticalmovement of the auger-shaft B through the sleeve-like hub of the wheelC4, while at the same time, by the connection formed by the linksZbetween the two yokes B5 and C5, both are made to revolve together,which gives a continual rotary as well as reciprocal motion to theaugershaft B, which combined movement is essential to the successfuloperation of my invention. In my former invention, as shown in thepatent above referred to, I employed a square shaft with a squareopening through the hub of the Wheel corresponding to the present wheelC4. While this did the work, it did not do it in so satisfactory amanner, and it soon became too much worn for successful use. Thoroughtest of the present construction has shown that these defects are by itovercome.

The hopper D is conveniently arranged to receive the material to bepacked and it terminates in a spout S, which surrounds thepacking-auger.

Atthe upper end of the packing-spout I locate the valve E, which isshown in closed position in Fig. 2. This valve is operated by a rope E',(see Fig. 1,) which passes over sheaves or pulleys c and terminates in aweight e. A catch Ct' is provided on the frame A at a point near thebottom, underneath which this ball or weight is adapted to be swung andwith which it will engage when pulled down to the proper point. Sopulling this rope raises and holds the valve up to its upper positionnear the top of the space formed to contain it (shown in Fig. 2) untildisengaged, as will be presently explained.

The platform F is mounted in ways in the frame A and moves verticallytherein after the fashion of an elevator. Upon it are mounted the sacksor other receptacles to be filled. It is shown in the drawings in itslower position. In operation when a sack is to be filled such sack ishung on the hooks h (see Fig. l) and the platform raised to near thelower end of the auger. As the packing proceeds it is forced downwardly,as will be readily understood. A projection f on the side of thisplatform when it has reached its lower position comes in contact withand forces the ball e from under its catch a', which permits the valve Eto drop to the position shown in Fig. 2, closing the mouth of the hopperand thus automatically shutting oif the iow of material into the sack.After the Sack is removed and an empty one placed in position the valveis raised by pulling the rope E and securing it as before, and thepacking proceeds. By

this means an automatic shutting off of the material is secured at theright moment and any wasting or scattering thereof during the changingof the sacks is avoided.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the auger of a packingmachine, of a drivingmechanism therefor consisting of a driven sleeve-like de'- vicesurrounding said shaft but not rigid therewith and pivoted linksconnecting said shaft and said device, whereby both a rotary motion issecured and a vertical movement permitted, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a packing-machine, of the auger-shaft, adriving-shaft at right angles therewith, a gear-wheel on saiddriving-shaft, a gear-wheel having a sleeve-like hub surrounding theauger-shaft and driven by said gear-wheel on the driving-shaft, and alink connection between said sleeve-like hub and said auger-shaft,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, in a packing-machine, of the auger-shaft, thedriving-shaft set at right angles therewith, a cross-head attached tosaid auger-shaft, whereby it is given a reciprocating motion and drivenbyva pitman from a Wheel on the driving-shaft, another wheel, alsodriven from said wheel on the driving-shaft and having a sleeve-like hubsurrounding the auger-shaft, and a link connection between said wheeland said auger-shaft, whereby both a reciprocal and rotary motion aresecured, substantially as set forth.

4. In a packing-machine, a packing-auger having a taper-point, incombination with mechanism whereby it is given both a reciprocal and arotary movement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a packing-machine, of a hopper terminating in aspoilt, a valve E, located at the bottom of said hopper, a rope E',running up through said hopper and over sheaves e e to the side of themachine, and thence down to near the bottom, where it is provided With aweight e', adapted to engage with a catch,said catch a on the framework,with which said weight will engage, and the traveling platform forcarrying the receptacle to be filled, havinga projection j", which willcome in contact with and disengage the weight from the catch, thusreleasing the gate and permitting it to close, all substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 22d day of February, A. D. 1892.

EVERT M. THOMPSON. [L. s]

Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, J. A. WALSH.

IOO

IIO

